Device for actuating control gears for machine guns



A H. G. FOKKER.

DEVICE FOR AUTUATING CONTROL GEAR$ FOR MACHINE GUNS. PPPPPPPPPPP PPPPPPPPT.1, 1920.

1,426,849, Patented Aug. 22, 1922. 4

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ANTHONY HERMAN GERARD FOKKER, OF AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS.

DEVICE FOR AGTUATING CONTROL GEARS FOR MACHINE GUNS.

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Application filed September 1, 1920.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANTHONY HERMAN GERARD FOKKER, a subject of the Queenof the Netherlands, residing at Amsterdam, Netherlands, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Devices for Actuating ControlGears for Machines Guns (for which I have filed application in Germany,N0. 307,6 i9, filed June 21, 1917), of which the following is aspecification.

This invention is a new and useful improvement in the construction ofdevices commonly known as interrupter gears or firing gears on airplanescarrying machine guns so mounted as to shoot through the plane ofrotation of the propeller. These gears consist of a connection betweenthe engine of the aeroplane and the machine gun, actuated by the enginein such a mannor that the gun is fired only at the time when thepropeller bladeis not in front of the muzzle of the gun, thus obviatingdamage to the propeller by bullets.

It is well known that in the construction of such mechanisms great caremust be taken to eliminate parts in which wear is likely to develop,which causes a lag between the actual actuation of the device by theengine and the firing of the gun, as this lag would cause the gun tofire later than ini tended so that the bullets might hit one of theblades of the propeller.

The object of this invention is to provide a means to cause the gun tofire at the right time, and on which the eventual wear has nodetrimental effect, and which utilizes centrifugal force for keeping arotating but loosely or pivotally mounted impact memher in such aposition as to stroke a suitably placed projection on the firing pin, inorder to actuate the mechanism of the gun, and cause the same to fire atthe required times to avoid injury to thepropell'er.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 shows a transverse section.

Fig. 2 shows a second form of construction.

Figs. 3 and 4: show forms of construction similar to Fig. 1 in differentpositions.

A rotor disc 6 with peripheral recesses c in which balls (5 have beenplaced, is installed upon the shaft a and arranged to rotate in acircular chamber 9 of a suitable Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented All. 22, 31922.

Serial No. 407,537.

casing. The number of the balls at corresponds with the number ofrecesses c. The firing pin f of the machine gun is adjustably installedin the casing e in such a manner, that its inner end protrudes into thewall 9 of the casing e.

In operation as the rotor disc 6 is made to rotate, the balls arepressed against the edge of the Wall 9 of the casing through the effectof centrifugal force, whereby they are made to push back, in passing,the firing pin f placed in the usual spring-bearings. (Fig. The form ofconstruction shown in 2 indicates, how the balls (Z have been replacedby rotatable blades 71,, whereby the dotted lines show the blades atrest. balls (Z may be replaced by rollers or other suitably shaped camor impact members, which are flung into the uppermost aperture bycentrifugal force, when the driving medium, in this case the plate 6, israpidly rotating and exercise in this position the oth erwise usualcam-pressure. (Fig. 3). When the rotor disc 6 is at rest, thecentrifugal force ceases, so that the balls (Z are thrown out of theiroperative position. There is also no possibility of the device remainingin such a position as to keep the firing pin depressed when the rotationceases, as is the case with devices using fixed cams or rollers.

Claims:

1. In combination with a controlling member of a machine gun firingmechanism, a rotor, and a centrifugally operated impact element, carriedby the rotor and arranged to strike and actuate said controlling member.

22. In combination with a machine gun firing pin, a casing having achamber into which the inner end of said pin projects when said pin isat the inner limit of its stroke, a rotor arranged in said chamber, anda centrifugally operated impact element, carried by the rotor andarranged to strike the inner end of said pin and hence actuate said pin.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

, ANTHONY HERMAN GERARD FOKKER. Witnesses:

C. CJoRTnR, H. Y. KUYrERs.

The

